Youth Adventures

Hikers on Paiute Mesa rim, after the arduous journey across “No Man’s Land” from Monument

Valley; Myron Brant at Rainbow Bridge, on a four-day service trip

Our youth adventures are where it all started! Hiking Naatsisaan, riding Tour de Rez, backpacking

Rainbow Bridge and Grand Canyon, trekking through No Man’s Land..….these type of outings are

among the 300+ trips that we have organized since it all started for NavajoYES in the Shonto area

in the early 90’s. Since then, we have continued to offer trips across the rez throughout the year for

youth, families, school and church groups that want to get a taste of life on the wild side.

Tour de Rez riders on north rim of Grand Canyon, a historic part of Dine’ Bikeyah

Tour de Rez was first ridden in summer 1991 and quickly became an annual summertime adventure

for youth to ride, quite literally, across the reservation. The Tour encompassed 500+ miles in its

journey around the Nation, often ending at the capital of Window Rock. TDR has been ridden every

summer since and has evolved in to the “Tour de Rez Cup” series of rides/races throughout the year

across the rez: Monument Valley, Navajo Mountain, Asaayi, Chuska Mountains and Beclabito.

President

Jonathan Nez and riders from his home community of Shonto on a

leg of Tour de Rez in the Chuska Mountains

Our most popular backpacking trips are Rainbow Bridge/Navajo Mountain area and throughout the

Grand Canyon region. We have led 35+ multi-day trips to Rainbow Bridge and 50+ overnight treks

at Grand Canyon. All of these wilderness trips offer youth and families a unique perspective on the

amazing landscapes, history and people that combine to create these special places. We love the

magic moments that we are able to share with our guests on these outings, and the lifelong

memories that they are able to take home with them.

Rim-to-rim crossings are a favorite trek, usually over three days with campsites at Cottonwood

Camp, Bright Angel Camp and Indian Gardens

Our most common Grand Canyon itineraries include the following:

Rim-to-Rim – The ultimate Grand Canyon experience, this is typically a three day trip best done in

spring, fall or early summer. You will get a sampling of much of what the Canyon has to offer,

including three unqiue campsites, a break at Phantom Ranch, the crossing of the Colorado River

and a brutal vertical mile climb out to the south rim.

Horseshoe Mesa (Grandview Trail) or Cottonwood Creek – This is a short, steep route with lots of

exposure. However, if you can handle some sheer cliffs of the tyrails edge and a rugged route in

spots, this is a awesome overnight trek. The campsite has some of the most stunning panoramic

views you will find in the Canyon and is a perfect fall trip.

Indian Gardens – A classic. This trip is a good intro to the Canyon, with an overnight stay below

the rim at the Gardens campground. This trip still involves nine miles of backpacking and over

3000-feet vertical ascent out but it remains the closest thing to a “modest” backpacking trip that

the Canyon has to offer below its rim.

Elk

on south rim; the trek out on Bright Angel Trail; cooling off at Ribbon Falls

Winter Treks – Winter is a time of solitude and of trails much less-travelled! It is also rather cold.

However, winter treks off a unique glimpse of the Canyion and will test hikers fortitude. This

journey is typically done as a three-day journey, with a base camp at Indian Gardens and day trip

on the middle day to the Colorado River and, if the groups so chooses, Phantom Ranch. Temps can

be in the teens or lower, so we will be sure to prepare for a cold (long) night in the Canyon. We

will have crampons and good winter gear for this trip, which will take place in December, January

or February.

Cape Solitude – This is a journey to one of the most unique and breath-taking places in Grand

Canyon country. It can be done as a challenging 30-mile trail run, or split in to a three-day trip

with an overnight camp at around mile 10, an out-and-back to the Cape on day two, and out on day

three.

East Tonto – South Kaibab is a popular route with views that explain its acclaim, but the East

Tonto Trail can quickly get you into some of the most pristine, peaceful places in the Canyon. Your

base camp here can be a jumping off point for the a day hike to the river, or you can add a couple

days and continue on to Horseshoe Mesa and out on Grandview.

Little Colorado River Gorge – A journey into surreal world of the LCR can be a two, three or four

day journey, depending upon where you want to enter and exit this gorge. The Horse Route takes

you to the canyon floor and ultimately to Blue Springs, the spot where the magic happens. The Salt

Trail gets you in to the heart of the Canyon, where you can hike out or go downstreal to the

Colorado and Boucher Trail for a two-day trek out.

Grand Canyon from North Rim; the endangered California condor;descending North Kaibab Trail

near Manzanita Resthous

Rainbow Bridge backpacking trips can be undertaken throughout the year, and we have led over 35

trips in these canyons in all seasons. While spring and fall are popular, winter and early summer

treks can be great experiences as well, if well-planned. Though the North Rainbow Trail is 15 ½

miles and Rainbow Lodge Trail is 13 ½ miles, both routes are rugged wilderness treks with few

amenities but stellar vistas and amazing landscapes: canyons, galore, Navajo Mountain, Lake

Powell, the Henry Mountains and, of course, the prize: Rainbow Bridge. This trip is best for upper

elementary and above, preferably hearty kids who won’t miss the amenities of home.

The trek is generally done in two days (if departing from the Bridge by boat), or three days, if

retruning back to the trailhead. There are no restroom facilities on the route, so plan to practice

“leave no trace” guidelines. There is water in the creeks year-round, but plan to filter the water, use

a Life Straw or treat with iodine. On the North Rainbow Trail, expect to find water year-round at

Cha, Balk Rock, Nasja (Surprise Valley), Oak and Bridge. The Rainbow Lodge Trail, with

perenniel sources at Cliff Canyon (over eight miles from the ruins of the Lodge, which is a long

distance on a hot summer day), Redbud Creek and Bridge Canyon. Most backpackers utilize one of

the common established campsites: Bald Rock, Surprise Valley, the Bridge/Redbud Jct and Echo

Camp on the North Side, while Yabbut Pass, Cliff Canyon and Redbud Pass are popular on the

Lodge Trail.

On the summit of Naatsisaan; chillin’ in Nasja Creek; some trailhead work prior to a trek

Since the early 1990’s, NavajoYES has played a big role in caring for the Rainbow Trail. Our trail

crews, along with backpacking groups, enter the canyons with a mission have put in thousands of

manhours of labor on these routes. The North Rainbow Trail has receeived the most attention, and

backpackers on our normal treks will likely engage in some clean-up, cairn-building or minor trail

restoration work.

Our most popular day trips are to Twin Falls in the Carrizo Mountains near T’iis Nazbas and at

Navajo Mountain, the highest spot on the Navajo Nation. These venues offers some of the most

dramatic landscapes on the Nation, including the highest waterfall (Twin Falls at 120 feet) and the

biggest view (over 6000 vertical feel from the top of Naatisiaan to the waters of Lake Powell

below).

All of our trips include trip leaders, as well as the basic gear (packs, tents, sleeping bags and mats,

crampons, water bottles and other gear and equipment, as needed for the journey. We will work

with your group in planning a menu for the trip and organizing the purchasing of food, and its

transport and prep on the trail.

Before trips, we like to meet with school leaders and students (and parents, as desired) to give an

overview of the trip and to introduce them to the gear that they will be using. We generally prefer

to have students select their pack, sleeping bad and tent (with partners) at this pre-trip session. This

is also a good opportunity to review medical aspects of the trip, any health issues and trip

guidelines. Students and parents are asked to complete a Health Questionnaire & History, as well

as a Trip Permission & Waiver, either at this meeting or at some point prior to the trip.

Schools, college groups, summer youth, churches, tribal youth programs and community groups are

among those for whom we have organized outings. Please contact us if you have a group interested

in enjoying some outdoor adventure on the rez.